Gang busted for

CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro — Eight suspected members of a syndicate are now jailed on charges of alleged estafa for using the records of a retired police official to fraudulently apply for a P2-million loan from the Armed Forces of the Philippines Savings and Loans Inc. (AFPSLAI) local office, here.

Superintendent Jonathan P. Paguio, city chief of police, identified the suspects as Seferino V. Rodolfo, 62, single, a resident of Barangay Aguado, Trece Martirez City, Cavite; Meriam D. Ungos, 49, widow, of Barangay San Nicolas, Pangasinan; Maribel M. Sionilo, 49, married, of Barangay Comembo, Makati; and

Jonathan P. Panceras, 41, single, also of Comembo, Makati; Alvin Abdul Kalam Mahamud, 43, of Upper Bernardo, Quezon City; Jesus C. Canero, 37, of Sta. Monica Village, San Fernando City; TSgt. Edwin P. Madrigal (retired), 49, of Barangay Lourdes, Tarlac City and Marivic E. Jose, 35, of Barangay Cogeo, Antipolo City.

Investigation disclosed that suspect Rodolfo applied for a loan at AFPSLAI Office in Calapan City amounting to P2 million under the name of a certain retired police Superintendent Yolando O. Conaco, of Balua, Cagayan de Oro City.

But upon verification at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City by AFPSLAI-Lucena Branch Manager Carolyn P. de Villa, whose office processed the loan, it was found out that the real Supt. Conaco has not applied for any loan in the said office.

On August 30, De Villa and AFPSLAI Calapan City sought police assistance, subsequently setting up an entrapment operation on the date of the release of the check for P2 million.

When the suspect, posing as Supt. Conaco, received the checks, together